Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Description
Chair, in particular office chair
The invention relates to a chair, in particular an
office chair, having a backrest which is coupled to a
seat support by means of a backrest support and having
a seat face and optionally having two armrests.
A modern office chair, such as a chair known, for
example, from DE 20 2005 017 321 Ul and DE 101 22 945
Al, generally comprises a seat support which rests on a
chair column and to which a backrest support for a
backrest is mechanically coupled so as to be pivotably
movable. A corresponding, in particular resiliently
loaded, pivot mechanism enables the backrest to be
inclined to the rear counter to an, for example,
adjustable spring restoring force. Armrests which may
be provided are therefore generally connected to the
backrest support in order to carry out an inclination
movement together with the backrest.
Such an office chair can further generally be adjusted
in terms of height by means of corresponding
construction of the chair column and can be readily
displaced by means of rollers which are retained on
extension arms which are arranged in the manner of a
star. Such an office chair is often also provided with
a synchronization mechanism which enables a synchronous
movement of the seat face with the backrest.
An object of the invention is to construct such an
office chair so as to be able to be assembled in such a
manner that it can be transported and/or stored in a
space-saving manner.
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According to an aspect of the present invention there is
provided a chair, in particular an office chair, having a
backrest which is coupled to a seat support by means of a
backrest support and having a seat face,
wherein the backrest support is constructed in two
pieces having a seat-support-side (first) support member
which is associated with the seat support and having a
backrest-side (second) support member which is associated
with the backrest and which is joined to the seat-support-
side support member in a positive-locking plug type
connection and is locked therein;
wherein one of the support members has at the joint side
a plug type receiving member and the other support member has
at the joint side an insertion shaft; and
wherein inside the plug type receiving member a locking
bar is arranged so as to be rotatably movable.
In some embodiments, the locking bar can be pivoted in the
insertion direction.
In some embodiments, inside the plug type receiving member
there is arranged a resilient element which is supported, on
the one hand, on the inner wall thereof and, on the other
hand, on the locking bar and counter to the restoring force
of which the locking bar pivots during the plug type
connection.
In some embodiments, the plug type connection has at the inner
side a recessed stepped contour into which the locking bar
pivots during the plug type connection.
In some embodiments, the insertion shaft has a convex outer
contour at the free end side.
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In some embodiments, the insertion shaft has a locking contour
in which the locking bar pivots out during the plug type
connection.
In some embodiments, there is constructed along the locking
contour a locking ramp along which the locking bar slides
during the plug type connection with the free-end-side end
face thereof into the locking end position.
In some embodiments, there is constructed along the locking
contour an abutment ramp which runs obliquely into a ramp
base and against which the locking bar pivots out during the
locking operation.
In some embodiments, the locking contour is constructed in
such a manner that the locking bar during the pivot movement
thereof into the locking end position draws the insertion
shaft into the plug type receiving member in the insertion
direction.
In some embodiments, the locking ramp is constructed in such
a manner that it conforms to the pivot radius of the locking
bar as the ramp depth increases.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is
provided a chair, in particular an office chair, having a
backrest which is coupled by means of a backrest support to
a seat support and having a seat face and having at least one
armrest which is coupled to a seat support by means of an
armrest support,
wherein the armrest support is constructed in two pieces
having a seat-support-side (first) support member which is
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associated with the seat support and having an armrest-side
(second) support member which is associated with the armrest,
wherein the or each armrest is joined to the armrest
support in a positive-locking plug type connection and is
locked therein, and wherein one of the support members has at
the joint side a plug type receiving member and the other
support member has at the joint side an insertion shaft, and
wherein inside the plug type receiving member a locking
bar is arranged so as to be rotatably movable.
In some embodiments, the backrest is coupled to the seat
support in a pivotably movable manner.
In some embodiments, the seat face is coupled to the seat
support so as to be able to be moved synchronously with the
backrest.
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To this end, the chair according to the invention, in
particular an office chair, is constructed so as to be
able to be assembled without tools, in a particularly
preferable manner by the backrest support being
constructed in two pieces with there being formed
second support members which during the assembly
operation are inserted in a positive-locking plug type
connection and are locked therein. Additionally or
alternatively, armrests which may be present may also
be inserted in a corresponding positive-locking plug
type connection with the backrest support and locked in
this plug type connection.
With regard to the joining or plug type connection of
the two-piece backrest support, this is formed by a
first support member which is associated with the seat
support and a second support member which is associated
with the backrest, wherein the backrest-side (second)
support member is locked to the seat-support-side
(first) support member in the positive-locking plug
type connection during the joining operation. To this
end, one of the support members has in a suitable
manner at the joint side a shaft-like or bush-like plug
type receiving member and the other support member has
a corresponding insertion shaft at the joint side.
The locking of the two support members to each other is
carried out in an advantageous embodiment by means of a
locking bar, which is arranged in a rotationally
movable manner inside the plug type receiving member
and in this instance, preferably in the insertion
direction of the insertion shaft of the corresponding
support member, is arranged so as to be pivotably
movable. Alternatively, there may be provided a locking
hook which is then arranged so as to be pivotably
movable in the plug type receiving member counter to
the insertion direction of the insertion shaft.
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In order to increase the force with which the locking
bar pivots into the locking position thereof during the
plug type or joining connection operation, there is
advantageously provided a mechanical resilient element,
in particular in the form of a helical, conical or coil
spring which acts as a pressure spring. This resilient
element is supported inside the plug type receiving
member of the corresponding support member, on the one
hand, on the inner wall thereof and, on the other hand,
on the locking bar.
During the insertion operation, in which the locking
bar is pivoted by means of the free end of the
insertion shaft, the resilient element is tensioned. As
soon as the insertion shaft of the corresponding
support member has reached a specific desired position
within the plug type receiving member of the other
support member, the locking bar - where applicable
supported by the restoring force of the resilient
element - pivots into an insertion-shaft-side locking
contour. A stepped contour or a fold which is
associated with the plug type receiving member at the
inner side enables complete pivoting outwards of the
locking bar during the plug type connection so that the
insertion shaft with the free end thereof and the shaft
portion thereof which has the locking contour can pass
the locking bar which is pivoted inwards against the
inner wall of the plug type receiving member in an
unimpeded manner.
For the most low-friction possible pivoting of the
locking bar against the inner wall of the plug type
receiving member, the insertion shaft of the
corresponding support member has a convex outer contour
at the free end side.
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According to an advantageous embodiment, there is
constructed along the locking contour of the insertion
shaft a locking ramp along which the locking bar slides
during the plug type connection with the free-end-side
end face thereof into the locking end position. A
suitable development makes provision for there to be
constructed along the locking contour an abutment ramp
which runs obliquely into a ramp base and against which
the locking bar pivots out during the locking
operation. The locking ramp of the locking contour also
runs into this ramp base.
The locking contour is in this instance constructed in
such a manner that the locking bar during the pivot
movement thereof into the locking end position draws
the insertion shaft into the plug type receiving member
in the insertion direction. This effect of self-drawing
of the support member having the insertion shaft into
the plug type receiving member of the other support
member is achieved by means of a corresponding
configuration of the locking ramp by it conforming to
the pivot radius of the locking bar as the ramp depth
increases. This effect with the correspondingly
controlled pivoting of the locking bar into the locking
end position thereof is supported by the resilient
element, wherein relative movements which are carried
out manually between the two support members result in
movements of the support member which has the insertion
shaft in the insertion direction until the locking bar
has reached its locking end position.
When armrests are present, these are suitably joined to
the backrest support by means of a corresponding plug
type connection including locking during a manual
assembly operation. In this instance, the backrest
support may have a corresponding plug type receiving
member whilst the respective armrest portion has a
corresponding insertion shaft.
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In an advantageous development, the backrest may be
coupled to the seat support in a pivotably movable
manner and the seat face may additionally be coupled to
the seat support in a suitable manner so as to be able
to be moved synchronously with the backrest.
The advantages achieved with the invention in
particular involve the fact that, using such a
positive-locking plug type connection of a two-piece
backrest support, the backrest of a chair, preferably
an office chair, can be mounted manually in a simple
manner on a seat support without the use of tools,
wherein the plug type connection between the two
corresponding support members locks independently. A
corresponding tool-free assembly of armrests which may
be present using a corresponding plug type connection
including locking enables a time-saving and
particularly simple-to-handle assembly of a chair which
is delivered in corresponding individual pieces without
any need to provide conventional or special tools.
Although a corresponding plug type connection with a
non-releasable locking already appears to be
advantageous with respect to a space-saving transport
and/or storage possibility of such an office chair
which is provided in a few individual pieces, the
locking of the plug type connection can suitably be
released. To this end, an access opening to the locking
bar is advantageously introduced into the plug type
receiving member at the side of the plug type receiving
member of the corresponding support member, which side
is opposite the rotation axis of the locking bar. The
access to the locking bar via the insertion shaft side
facing the receiving-member-side plug type opening
inside the plug type connection is suitably carried out
by means of a corresponding, preferably significantly
smaller unlocking opening inside the insertion shaft
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and at that location in the region of the locking
contour, in particular in the region of the abutment
ramp thereof, against which the locking bar is in
abutment in the locking end position thereof.
Embodiments of the invention are explained in greater
detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an office chair
with joined support members of a backrest support,
Figure 2 is a cutout of the two-piece backrest support
in a pre-insertion position,
Figure 3 is a view according to Figure 2 of the plug
type connection of the support members of the backrest
support in the insertion position without any locking,
Figure 4 is a view according to Figures 1 and 2 of the
locked plug type connection of the two support members
with the locking bar which is pivoted into the locking
position,
Figure 5 is a perspective partial view of a structural
embodiment of the backrest support in the pre-insertion
position of the insertion shaft of the backrest-side
support member in front of the plug type receiving
member of the seat-support-side support member,
Figure 6 is a perspective cutout of the embodiment
according to Figure 5 when viewed in the plug type
receiving member of the seat-support-side support
member,
Figure 7 is a perspective cutout of the embodiment
according to Figure 5 with a backrest support which is
connected and locked when viewed from below in the
direction towards an unlocking opening in the seat-
support-side support member,
Figure 8 is a schematic side view of an office chair
according to Figure 1 with a variant of the plug type
connection with joined support members of the backrest
support, and
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Figure 9 is a front view of an office chair according
to Figures 1 and 8 with armrests which are joined in
corresponding plug type connections including locking.
Components which correspond to each other are given the
same reference numerals in all the Figures.
Figure 1 is a schematic side view of an office chair 1.
The office chair 1 has a seat or a seat face 2 and a
backrest 3 and is supported by means of a chair column
4 by a foot frame which is not shown. The office chair
1 may further have armrests which are not shown and
which form a functional unit with the backrest 3.
A backrest support 5 which supports the backrest 3 and
to which the armrests are where applicable secured so
as to be able to be inserted and locked can be pivoted
by means of a rotary bearing 6, that is to say, mounted
on a seat support 7 so as to be able to be inclined
backwards. Between the backrest support 5 and the seat
support 7 there may be provided in a manner not shown
in greater detail a synchronization mechanism which
enables a synchronous movement of the seat face 2
during an inclination of the backrest 3 in a backward
direction.
The seat support 5 is substantially or approximately L-
shaped with a vertical L-shaped member 5a and an L-
shaped member 5b which extends in a substantially
horizontal manner below the seat face 2. In the shaded
partially sectioned transition region of the two L-
shaped members 5a, 5b, the backrest support 5 is
constructed in two pieces with a seat-support-side
(first) support member 8 and a backrest-side (second)
support member 9 being formed. The two support members
8, 9 are joined in a positive-locking plug type
connection 10 and locked therein by means of a locking
bar 11.
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As shown in Figures 2 to 4 as an enlarged cutout of the
region of the plug type connection 10 between the two
support members 8 and 9, the seat-support-side support
member 8 has a plug type receiving member 12 in which
the locking bar 11 is arranged with the articulation
end thereof in a rotary bearing 13 so as to be
pivotably movable. A resilient element 14 is also
arranged inside the plug type receiving member 12 and
is supported at that location on the one hand on an
inner wall 15 of the plug type receiving member 12,
which inner wall faces the seat face 2 and, on the
other hand, on the locking bar 11. The locking bar 11
is located with the articulation end thereof in the
region of a stepped contour 16 within the plug type
receiving member 12 in such a manner that the locking
bar 11 in the inwardly pivoted state shown in Figure 3
is in alignment with an insertion wall 17 between an
insertion opening 18 and the rotary bearing 13. That is
to say, the inwardly pivoted locking bar 11 completely
releases the plug type receiving member 12, that is to
say, a corresponding insertion channel inside the plug
type receiving member 12 of the seat-support-side
support member 8.
The backrest-side support member 9 of the backrest
support 5 has at the joint side an insertion shaft 19
whose outer diameter is adapted to the clear width of
the plug type receiving member 12 of the backrest-side
support member 8 in order to produce a positive-locking
connection in the plug type connection 10. Inside the
insertion shaft 19, there are provided at the side
thereof facing the locking bar 11 a locking contour 20
with an abutment ramp 21 which extends obliquely, that
is to say, which declines in an oblique manner in the
insertion direction 21, and a locking ramp 22 which
merges with the abutment ramp 21 in the region of a
ramp base 23. The locking ramp 22 rises in the
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insertion direction 21 in a suitable manner in a
circular manner or declines counter to the insertion
direction 21 shown towards the ramp base 23.
During the production of the plug type connection 10
between the two support members 8, 9 of the two-piece
backrest support 5, the insertion shaft 19 moves inside
the plug type receiving member 12 into abutting contact
with the locking bar 11. As a result, the locking bar
11 is pivoted into the pivoted-in position thereof
shown in Figure 3. To this end, the insertion shaft 19
is provided at the free end side with a concave outer
contour 24. As soon as the insertion shaft 19 has
completely passed the locking bar 11 with the locking
contour 20 thereof and in this instance the ramp end 25
of the locking ramp 22, which end is applied to the
ramp base 23, has passed the free end 26 of the locking
bar 11, the locking bar 11 falls into the wedge-like
locking contour 20 of the insertion shaft 19. During
this pivot movement of the locking bar 11, it slides
with the free end 26 thereof along the locking ramp 22.
In this instance, it conforms to the pivot radius of
the locking bar 11 as the ramp depth increases in the
direction of the ramp base 23.
In addition, the insertion shaft 19 is increasingly
drawn in the insertion direction 21 into the
corresponding plug type receiving member 12 of the
corresponding support member 8. In this instance, the
locking contour 20 and in particular the path of the
locking ramp 22 is constructed in such a manner that
the locking bar 11 during its pivot movement into the
locking end position draws the insertion shaft 19 into
the plug type receiving member 12 in the insertion
direction 21. This effect of self-drawing of the
support member 9 which has the insertion shaft 19 into
the plug type receiving member 12 of the other support
member 8 is achieved by means of a corresponding
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circular configuration of the locking ramp 22 by it
conforming to the pivot radius Ril of the locking bar 11
as the ramp depth increases. The circle which is
associated with the pivot radius Ril of the locking bar
11 and the circle which is associated with the circle
of the circular locking ramp 22 with the radius of
curvature R22 are illustrated in Figure 4. It is
possible to see the circle centre points of the circles
with the radii Rn. and R22 spaced apart from each other
with the result described that the insertion shaft 19
while the free end 26 of the locking bar 11 slides
along the locking ramp 22, the insertion shaft 19 of
the support member 9 is increasingly drawn into the
corresponding plug type receiving member 12 of the
support member 8. This effect with a correspondingly
controlled pivoting of the locking bar 11 is supported
by the resilient element 14. In this instance, relative
movements between the two support members 8, 9 result
in movements of the support member 9 which has the
insertion shaft 19 in the insertion direction 21 until
the locking bar 11 has reached its locking end
position.
Figures 5 to 7 show a specific structural configuration
of the two-piece backrest support 5 with the seat-
support-side support member 8 and the backrest-side
support member 9 thereof in a preliminary position of
the plug type connection 10 between the insertion shaft
19 and the plug type receiving member 12 of the
respective support member 9 or 8, respectively. It is
possible to see the locking contour 20 in the
embodiment, for example, formed by two struts 20a, 20b
which are spaced apart from each other and on which the
abutment ramp 21 and the locking ramp 22 are formed.
Figure 6 is a view into the plug type receiving member
12 of the seat-support-side support member 8. It is
possible to see the in this instance plate-like locking
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bar 11 shown in the pivoted-out position thereof
according to Figure 2. The stepped contour 16, behind
which the locking bar 11 during the production of the
plug type connection 10 pivots in against the inner
wall 15 of the plug type receiving member 12, is
provided in this instance by a rod-like or strut-like
formed element 27 which is formed on the corresponding
inner wall 15 of the plug type receiving member 12 of
the seat-support-side support member 8. In the inner
wall 28 of the plug type receiving member 12, which
wall is opposite this inner wall 15 and the insertion
wall 17, there is introduced an access opening 29 for a
tool by means of which the plug type connection 10
between the two support members 8 and 9 of the backrest
support 5 can be unlocked.
In the locked plug type connection 10 shown in Figure 7
between the two support members 8 and 9 of the backrest
support 5, the insertion shaft 19 is accessible in the
region of the web-like construction of the locking
contour 20 thereof via the access opening 28. In this
instance, there is formed between the webs 20a, 20b
which together form the locking contour 19 at the
opposite side a gap-like or slot-like unlocking opening
30, by means of which the locking bar 11 is accessible
by means of a tool and can be manually pivoted into the
unlocking position thereof shown in Figure 3. If the
plug type connection 10 is unlocked in this manner, the
backrest 3 together with the backrest-side support
member 9 can be released from the seat-support-side
support member 8.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above. Instead, other variants of the
invention may also be derived therefrom by the person
skilled in the art without departing from the subject-
matter of the invention. In particular, all the
individual features described in connection with the
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embodiments can further also be combined in a different
manner, without departing from the subject-matter of
the invention.
For example, according to the variant shown in Figure
8, the plug type receiving member 12 may also be
provided on the backrest-side support member 9 and
accordingly the insertion shaft 19 may be provided on
the seat-support-side support member 8.
In addition, the locking bar 11 may also be constructed
as a locking hook which in the opposite insertion
direction 21 with respect to Figure 2 is shown so as to
extend obliquely in the initial position thereof in
order during the production of the plug type connection
10 to again be deflected against the inner wall 15 or
against the insertion wall 17 of the plug type
receiving member 12 and with corresponding insertion
positioning to slide with the hook end thereof along
the locking ramp 22 against the ramp base 23. The
effect of the self-drawing of the insertion shaft 19
into the corresponding plug type receiving member 12 is
thereby achieved again.
Furthermore, with an office chair 1 which is provided
according to Figure 9 with armrests 31, these can also
be mounted without any tools on the backrest support 5
with an identical plug type connection 10' including
locking by means of a corresponding locking bar 11'
which is preferably supported by means of a resilient
element 14'.
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List of reference numerals
1 Chair/office chair
2 Seat face
3 Backrest
4 Chair column
5 Backrest support
5a Vertical L-shaped member
5b Horizontal L-shaped member
6 Rotary bearing
7 Seat support
8 Seat-support-side support member
9 Backrest-side support member
10 Plug type connection
11 Locking bar
12 Plug type receiving member
13 Rotary bearing
14 Resilient element
15 Inner wall
16 Stepped contour
17 Insertion wall
18 Insertion opening
19 Insertion shaft
20 Locking contour
20a,b Strut
21 Abutment ramp
22 Locking ramp
23 Ramp base
24 Outer contour
25 Ramp end
26 Free end
27 Formed element
28 Inner wall
29 Access opening
30 Unlocking opening
31 Armrest
